Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-09-08
THE CUNNING SPIDER.
some of His Ways and Curious
Characteristics.
An Architect and an Upholsterer-His
Wisdom, Foresight and Bravery-He
Provides for Himself, His FAM
lily and Their Future.

Among the many things that the ap-
proach of summer brings for him to
enjoy, or be source of annoyance, is
the spider. The spider family is very
numerous, no less than fifty kinds be-
ing described by naturalists. All spi-
ders have eight legs, with three joints
in each, and terminating in thin,
crooked claws. They have also eight
eyes, differently arranged according to
the species. Some have them in a
straight line, others in the shape of
capital V, Others four above and four
below, Others two above, two below
and two on either side, and there are
still others that have them arranged in
manner too complicated to describe
without drawings. On the front part
of the head they have pair of sharp,
crooked claws, or forceps, which stand
horizc ntally, and which, when not in
use, are hidden from view in little
cases beautifully adapted for their re-
ception, and in which they fold up like
a clasp-knife, and remain there be-
tween two rows of teeth. When the
spider bites it thrusts a white pro-
.Ooscis out of its mouth, with which it
instils poisonous liquid into the
wound. The abdomen, or hind part of
the spider, is separated from the head
and breast by small, thread-like tube.
The orter skin is hard, polished crust.
A very curious specimen not often
found in this country, but which is
said to be very common in Italy, is the
hunting spider. so called because. in
stead of spinning webs to entrap its
prey, it jumps on its victim. 1t is
small, and of brown color, beauti-
fully spotted, and its hind legs are
longer than the others. When it sees
a fly three or four yards distant, it
plans its attack with considerable de-
liberation, creeping softly up and sell
dom missing its object When in a
direct line, the spider springs upon the
back of the unsuspecting fly and
catches it by the head, and, after sat-
isfying its hunger, carries the rest
away for future consumption.
The nest of this spider is very Curl
Gus. 1t is about two inches high, and
is composed of a close, satin-like text
ure. In this are two chambers,
placed perpendicularly; in which the
spider reposes during the day, gener-
ally doing its hunting after nightfall
The parent regularly instructs her
young how to pursue their future avo-
cation, and when in the coarse of their
instruction they happen to miss a
jump, they run away and hide as
though ashamed of their failure.
The most extraordinary nest is that
of the mason spider, native of the
tropics. This nest is formed of very
hard clay, deeply colored with oxide of
iron. 1t is in the form of tube, about
one inch in diameter and six or seven
inches long. 1t is lined with uniform
tapestry of orange-eolored silken web.
of a texture rather thicker than fine
paper. This lining is used in two ways.
1t prevents the wall of the house from
falling down. and, as it is connected
with the door, it enables the spider TO
know what is going on above for the
whole vibrates when one part touched.
To one who has never seen this nest
the word may seem singular, but. new
ertheiess, there is door, and very
ingeniously contrived one. too, and II
is regarded as one of the most curious
things in the whole insect architecture.
II is little round piece made to bit ihe
opening, slightly convex on the inside
and coneave on the outside. 1t is COM
posed of twelve or more layers of web
similar to that with which the nest is
lined, laid very closely together. and
so managed that the inner layers are
broadest the others gradually dimin-
ishing in size. except near the hinge,
which is about an inch long. All the
layers are united and prolonged into
the tube. consequently it is the firmest
aud strongest portion of the whole
structure. The material is so elastic
that the hinge shuts rs though it had
spring.
TIE nest is always made On sloping
bank, and one side is higher than the